The Director Who Buys Me Dinner – Series Review & Episode Guide

Dongbaek is a 27-year-old office employee starting the first day of his new job. He is supposed to work in the performance planning department for a celebrity agency, Min Entertainment. However, Dongbaek transfers to another position unexpectedly. Director Min, the company's CEO, has instructed Dongbaek to be his assistant. Although confused, the subordinate must follow orders and accept this surprising career change.

Upon meeting, Director Min reveals they knew each other in the past. Dongbaek feels confused and doesn't remember him. Director Min gets annoyed by his memory loss. Suddenly, he tells his subordinate that they should start dating. Dongbaek is astonished by this request. He thinks his new boss is just being "eccentric" and chooses to ignore his sketchy behaviour.

Dongbaek doesn't enjoy working for his boss, who gives him weird tasks. He has considered quitting his job. However, Dongbaek remains at the company for various reasons. Firstly, he needs income. Secondly, he wants job experience. And thirdly, he hopes to transfer to the performance planning department over time.

One day, Director Min invites Dongbaek for dinner after work. During the meal, Dongbaek's boss mentions dating again. He wants them to become a couple. Dongbaek gets upset and rejects the director's advances. Director Min, also known as Yudam, then makes a shocking confession about his past. He shares a colourful history with Dongbaek, and their fates are closely intertwined. Yudam's revelation sounds outrageous to Dongbaek, who leaves the dinner in disbelief. That night, he experienced sudden chest pains and random nightmares.

Dongbaek confronts his boss the next day, demanding an explanation. Suddenly, Dongbaek feels an ache in his chest again. When Yudam kisses his body, the discomfort goes away. Yudam speculates that Dongbaek's pain may worsen over time. The only way to heal his condition is if they start dating. Begrudgingly, Dongbaek accepts that Yudam's wild claims may be valid. Even so, he feels nervous around his boss and skips their next dinner date. As they continue working side by side, Yudam hopes to win over his subordinate's heart.

The Director Who Buys Me Dinner begins as a typical workplace romance. It introduces a new employee, his arrogant boss, and their awkward first encounter. Based on these familiar tropes, you expect the love story to follow a predictable trajectory. However, there's a surprise fantasy twist! Once the main character reveals his secret past, the plot steers in a wildly different direction. The Director Who Buys Me Dinner has a quirky concept that differentiates itself from a standard office BL drama.

The opening episodes benefited from the novelty of the premise. I was eager to learn about the characters and their mysterious history. Despite its potential, my early enthusiasm fizzles after a while. The clunky narrative seems disjointed, as if random moments are pieced together. I pause between scenes with a quizzical look, perplexed by vague events or incoherent behaviour. This story doesn't flow smoothly, explain details clearly, and build momentum effectively. The Director Who Buys Me Dinner feels disappointing, like a creative idea that is poorly executed.

The series thrives whenever it highlights the juicy relationship dynamic between the leads. Dongbaek & Yudam's personality clash creates exciting sparks. They flirt, feud, and finally fall in love. However, the series gets sidetracked by the Denis subplot, wasting time on a one-note villain with repetitive scenes. This unnecessary storyline takes away focus from the couple. Each episode should've been packed with sexual tension and romantic interactions, which are the selling points of a BL drama. Instead, I'm stuck watching Denis glower at the camera.

Aesthetically, Dongbaek and Yudam look good together as a couple. Both men project an image of suaveness and sophistication in their dapper business suits. Standing together, they appear like BL fanart come to life. However, their bond doesn't feel convincing. While they share a few sweet moments, I'm skeptical about the characters' attraction to each other. They just give a lot of hugs instead of having meaningful exchanges. Later, the series could've showcased the romance through an important flashback. Yet, the lacklustre relationship scenes fail to impress.

Dongbaek's actor (Park Jeong Woo) is my favourite in the cast. He gives consistent and capable performances throughout the series. I'm particularly amazed by how much his behaviour transforms in Episode 3. He drops his lost little lamb persona and adopts a menacing demeanour. He also shines during dramatic moments and cute romantic encounters. His costar (Park Young Woon) has a brooding manner that works well for the role. Unfortunately, he struggles with various crying scenes. The performer can't convey devastated emotions without going over the top.

I enjoy the eccentricity in The Director Who Buys Me Dinner. Some scenarios are so bizarre that they amuse me, like how Dongbaek's chest pain heals whenever Yudam hugs him. The unpredictable plot keeps me guessing what will happen next. Even the finale contains various twists and thrills, surprising me until the end. While the series isn't dull, it leaves me disappointed and dissatisfied. Despite its ambitious ideas, The Director Who Buys Me Dinner doesn't convey a cohesive story or a compelling romance. This mediocre BL drama could have been so much better.